There are a number of steps you can take to care for your Lynnwood investment properties from vandalism. But even with the best preventions, you can not be certain that you will not be a victim. With roughly 15% of homes targeted by vandals each year, it is likely that one or more of your rental homes may eventually be hit.
When vandalism arises, it’s easy to feel a sense of violation and frustration as you try to deal with the authorities, your insurance company, and make the necessary repairs, all while you are trying to provide reassurance to an equally upset renter. Knowing what to do when vandals strike can help restore your sense of confidence and make navigating the recovery process just a bit easier.
As soon as vandalism is discovered, it is important to contact the local authorities and file a police report immediately. Your tenants may take it upon themselves to make the phone call but as the Lynnwood property landlord, you must communicate with the investigating police officers and make sure that all property damage is documented in an authorized detail.
You will want to document the vandalism for yourself and the insurance company. In addition to having a written statement, it could be a good idea to take pictures of the damage. If you are unable to get to the property yourself to take pictures, you can have your tenant or even your property management company take them.
Unless the vandalism was created by your tenant or their guests, you will be liable to make the appropriate repairs. Working closely with your insurance company is an important step in the operation; they need to get involved right after the vandalism happens. Even before vandalism occurs, it is a good idea to make sure that your landlord insurance policy covers this type of damage. If not, you may have to pay for the repairs yourself.
Lastly, vandalism can frighten a tenant, leaving behind not only the physical damage but also the feeling of fear and anxiety. Their sense of security was violated and now they need reassurance from you that things will be handled correctly while being given visible evidence that you, or your property management company, are working hard to restore the rental property and their ability to live safely in it.
At Real Property Management North Puget Sound, one of our top priorities is keeping both your tenant and your rental property unharmed from vandalism and other preventable damages. But if vandals do create a mess, we will carry out the documentation and recovery process for you and make certain that property is restored as soon as possible. Would you like to know more? Please contact us online or call us at 425-903-8500 for details.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
